Five things to know for Wake Forest basketball

A quick look at the Wake Forest’s men’s basketball team, which held its preseason session with the media Wednesday:

Roster overhaul

C.J. Harris, the Demon Deacons’ only senior on scholarship, called it a clean slate. A revolving-door roster would be equally accurate.

Seven players — due to transfers or either legal or disciplinary trouble — have departed during coach Jeff Bzdelik’s two seasons (combined record of 21-42, including 5-27 in the Atlantic Coast Conference).

And in a massive restocking, a seven-member freshman class has arrived.

“It’s a new team, and we’re just going to start over,” Harris said. “When you have seven freshmen, you have no choice but to start over. We have new guys, new personalities, new games. We’re working to mesh them all together.”

McKie on the move

Travis McKie, far and away Wake Forest’s leading rebounder the last two seasons, devoted the spring and the summer to converting from power forward to the wing for small-forward duties.

“I’m more perimeter-oriented,” the 6-foot-7 junior said. “I’m never on the block anymore. I’m a full-time ‘3.’ “

Part of that process involved hitting the national camp circuit and attending the Kevin Durant Skills Academy in Chicago and adidas Nations in Los Angeles.

“I played against some of the top guys in the country and I got a lot better,” McKie said.

Point counterpoint

Assuming that highly regarded freshman Codi Miller-McIntyre already has been handed the keys at point guard is premature.

“Everybody talks about Codi,” Bzdelik said, “but Madison is really, really getting stronger and starting to figure this out here. He has really, really, good quickness and he really pushes the ball hard.”

Big man coming off surgery

Devin Thomas categorized himself at 85 to 90 percent health four weeks after minor surgery on his right knee.

The 6-9 freshman — who became a viral star in high school after shattering a backboard with a dunk — resumed running and weight work with his legs earlier this week, and is easing back into limited contact drills on the court.

“It feels great. It feels a lot better,” Thomas said of his knee. “I’ve got to get back in shape. I haven’t been allowed to run in a while. So I missed a lot of conditioning with the team.”

First look

Wake Forest holds “Black & Gold Madness” on Saturday night at Reynolds Gymnasium on campus. Admission is free to the fan-friendly event, which starts at 8 p.m. and features the men’s and women’s teams.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m., with the first 500 fans receiving free T-shirts. There will be scrimmages, a 3-point shootout and a dunk contest.